2013 Fantasy Football: Week 3 Target Practice
Arizona
Andre Roberts: 9 8 4 Michael Floyd: 6 7 6 Jim Dray: 2 7 0 Larry Fitzgerald: 14 5 6 Andre Ellington: 3 2 6 Rashard Mendenhall: 1 2 1 Kory Sperry: 1 0 0 Jaron Brown: 2 0 2 Alfonso Smith: 1 0 1 Patrick Peterson: 1 0 0 Rob Housler: 0 0 3 Stepfan Taylor: 0 0 1
Atlanta
Julio Jones: 9 15 12 Tony Gonzalez: 6 8 5 Harry Douglas: 6 5 6 Jason Snelling: 3 4 5 Jacquizz Rodgers: 1 4 3 Roddy White: 2 3 4 Steven Jackson: 8 2 0 (inj.) Bradie Ewing: 1 0 0 Drew Davis: 0 0 1 Levine Toilolo: 0 0 1
Gonzalez hasn’t gained more than 36 yards or had more than four catches in any game this season – and that’s with Roddy White being basically invisible. Gonzo only had three games apiece not meeting those standards last year.
Baltimore
Torrey Smith: 8 13 9 Marlon Brown: 6 6 3 Ray Rice: 11 3 0 (inj.) Dallas Clark: 12 1 7 Brandon Stokley: 10 5 1 Bernard Pierce: 1 1 2 Jacoby Jones: 4 0 0 Ed Dickson: 0 5 0 Vonta Leach: 4 0 2
Smith is on pace for over 1,400 yards, and the touchdowns will come. He’s had four, seven and five catches, respectively, in each game with at least 85 yards in each game, too – the first time he’s met that yardage total in a three-game stretch in his career.
Buffalo
Steve Johnson: 6 10 13 Fred Jackson: 5 6 5 Robert Woods: 2 6 10 Scott Chandler: 6 6 6 CJ Spiller: 6 5 1 T.J. Graham: 1 3 5 Tashard Choice: 0 1 1 Marquise Goodwin: 1 0 0 Frank Summers: 0 2 0
Carolina
Steve Smith: 8 11 7 Greg Olsen: 10 8 8 Ted Ginn: 1 8 4 Brandon Lafell: 0 6 5 Mike Tolbert: 1 3 0 Armanti Edwards: 0 2 0 DeAngelo Williams: 3 0 2 Domenik Hixon: 0 0 1
This was Ginn’s second week in a row with at least 62 yards and a touchdown, but the targets just won’t be there enough for him to remain that consistent. LaFell had a couple nice touchdown catches Sunday, but, just like with Ginn, he’s too inconsistent as a player and this offense doesn’t suit him well.
Chicago
Matt Forte: 6 11 4 Brandon Marshall: 10 10 8 Martellus Bennett: 6 9 5 Alshon Jeffery: 8 5 8 Earl Bennett: 1 2 3 Michael Bush: 1 0 1 Steve Maneri: 0 0 1
Cincinnati
A.J. Green: 13 14 8 Jermaine Gresham: 5 9 5 Mohamed Sanu: 5 8 5 Tyler Eifert: 5 5 2 Marvin Jones: 2 4 4 Gio Bernard: 2 2 4 BenJarvus Green-Ellis: 1 1 0 Alex Smith: 0 1 0
Bernard has been pretty good the last two weeks, and Green-Ellis hasn’t, so it’s only a matter of time before Gio is the main back.
Cleveland
Josh Gordon: 0 0 (susp.) 19 Greg Little: 10 12 8 Davone Bess: 10 8 10 Jordan Cameron: 13 7 11 Trent Richardson: 6 5 (Week 3 trade) Travis Benjamin: 8 0 0 Tori Gurley: 2 0 0 Chris Ogbonnaya: 3 0 5 Gary
Barnidge: 1 0 0 Bobby Rainey: 0 0 1
Gordon’s 2013 debut went better than anyone could’ve expected: 10 catches for 146 yards, two touchdowns and even a rush for 22 yards. He’s been pretty dang good since beginning to play most of the snaps in Week 5 of last year, and even being in what should be an underwhelming offense with a not-so-good quarterback he should be an every-week starter in most leagues. Jordan Cameron ranks second among tight ends, behind the great Jimmy Graham, in targets and receptions.
Dallas
Dez Bryant: 8 13 6 Jason Witten: 9 8 6 DeMarco Murray: 10 6 3 James Hanna: 0 5 0 Miles Austin: 12 4 5 Terrance Williams: 4 3 0 Gavin Escobar: 2 0 2 Dwayne Harris: 3 0 1 Phillip Tanner: 1 0 0 Cole Beasley: 0 0 1
Dez Bryant was lucky to have his lone touchdown on a pedestrian four-catch, 38-yard day; he blatantly shoved Cortland Finnegan in front of two officials, who for some reason didn’t call pass interference.
Denver
Eric Decker: 7 13 8 Julius Thomas: 7 9 4 Wes Welker: 11 8 8 Demaryius Thomas: 11 6 11 Knowshown Moreno: 3 3 2 Montee Ball: 0 2 0 Andre Caldwell: 1 1 0 Ronnie Hillman: 2 1 1 Virgil Green: 0 1 2 Jacob Tamme: 0 0 1
Detroit
Calvin Johnson: 9 8 13 Nate Burleson: 6 8 9 Joique Bell: 6 8 5 Brandon Pettigrew: 4 6 2 Reggie Bush: 8 4 0 (inj.) Kris Durham: 2 2 3 Pat Edwards: 3 0 0 Joseph Fauria: 3 0 3 Tony Scheffler: 1 0 2 Ryan Broyles: 0 0 (inj.) 3
Burleson has at least six catches in each game and is averaging almost 80 yards. If Broyles comes on Burleson’s value takes a hit, but the veteran has always been a nice PPR play and Broyles is very injury-prone so hold on to Burleson.
Green Bay
James Jones: 2 12 8 Randall Cobb: 12 10 11 Jermichael Finley: 8 7 1 (left game due to injury) James Starks: 1 5 0 Jordy Nelson: 10 4 9 Andrew Quarless: 0 3 5 Eddie Lacy: 2 0(inj.) 0(I) John Kuhn: 1 0 0 Ryan Taylor: 0 0 3 Johnathan Franklin: 0 0 3 Jeremy Ross: 0 0 2
Cobb, Nelson and Jones rank seventh, 26th and 31st, respectively, in wide receiver targets (through Sunday’s games). Those numbers will inch up if/when Finley misses time due to his concussion.
Houston
Andre Johnson: 16 13 6 DeAndre Hopkins: 6 13 7 Owen Daniels: 7 5 9 Garrett Graham: 5 5 0 Ben Tate: 2 4 4 Arian Foster: 8 4 2 Keshawn Martin: 0 2 3 DeVier Posey: 0 0 4
Tate ranks tied for 23rd in running back targets (though Sunday) even though he’s just a part-time back, and is averaging 6.8 yards per rush.
Indianapolis
T.Y. Hilton: 5 12 4 Reggie Wayne: 8 8 7 Coby Fleener: 1 8 2 Darrius Heyward-Bey: 4 5 5 Ahmad Bradshaw: 1 3 4 Griff Whalen: 0 3 0 Dominique Jones: 0 2 0 Dwayne Allen: 2 0 0 (out for season) Vick Ballard: 2 0 0 Trent Richardson 0 0 (With Browns) 3 Donald Brown: 0 0 1 Stanley Havili: 0 0 1
Jacksonville
Cecil Shorts: 11 14 15 Ace Sanders: 9 7 3 Clay Harbor: 1 4 1 Stephen Burton: 0 3 9 Allen Reisner: 5 2 1 Maurice Jones-Drew: 2 1 5 Justin Forsett: 5 0 0 Jordan Todman: 4 0 0 Mike Brown: 3 0 0 Will Ta’ufo’ou: 1 0 1 D.J. Williams: 0 0 1
Kansas City
Jamaal Charles: 6 10 8 Dwayne Bowe: 6 8 3 Donnie Avery: 5 4 7 Dexter McCluster: 5 4 4 Sean McGrath: 0 4 4 Anthony Fasano: 5 2 0 Anthony Sherman: 4 0 2 Knile Davis: 1 0 0 Junior Hemingway: 1 0 1 Cyrus Gray: 1 0 0 A.J. Jenkins: 0 0 2 Kevin Brock: 0 0 1 Chad Hall: 0 0 1
Don’t buy in on Avery’s Week 3 (7 for 141); the Eagles took away Bowe and just gave up the underneath stuff to Avery and Charles.
Miami
Mike Wallace: 5 11 5 Brian Hartline: 14 8 6 Charles Clay: 6 7 6 Lamar Miller: 1 2 3 Brandon Gibson: 10 2 8 Daniel Thomas: 1 1 1 Rishard Matthews: 0 0 4 Michael Egnew: 0 0 1 Dion Sims: 0 0 1
Minnesota
Greg Jennings: 7 6 6 Kyle Rudolph: 4 6 8 Jerome Simpson: 8 5 8 Cordarrelle Patterson: 1 2 4 John Carlson: 1 2 2 Jarius Wright: 2 2 4 Adrian Peterson: 4 2 6 Zach Line: 1 0 1 Toby Gerhart: 0 0 2 Joe Webb: 0 0 1
Simpson only caught three of his eight targets.
New England
Julian Edelman: 9 18 7 Danny Amendola: 14 0 (inj.) 0 (I) Aaron Dobson: 0 10 10 Shane Vereen: 10 0(inj.) 0 (I) Kenbrell Thompkins: 14 7 7 Michael Hoomanawanui: 1 1 2 Josh Boyce: 2 0 1 Zach Sudfeld: 1 0 (inj.) 2 Brandon Bolden: 0 0 6 LeGarrette Blount: 0 1 0 James Develin: 0 1 0
Dobson is tied for 12th among wide receivers in targets (from Week 2 through Sunday’s games). He’s available in over 90 percent of ESPN leagues.
New Orleans
Jimmy Graham: 7 16 15 Darren Sproles: 6 8 6 Marques Colston: 6 7 8 Pierre Thomas: 4 5 6 Lance Moore: 4 4 3 Mark Ingram: 0 1 0 Kenny Stills: 5 0 2 Ben Watson: 3 0 2 Robert Meachem: 0 0 2 Jed Collins: 0 0 1
New York Giants
Victor Cruz: 8 11 8 Brandon Myers: 9 10 6 Reuben Randle: 6 9 4 Hakeem Nicks: 8 7 1 Da’Rel Scott: 8 4 3 Larry Donnell: 0 3 0 Bear Pascoe: 0 2 2 Brandon Jacobs: 0 1 0 David Wilson: 1 1 0 Henry Hynoski: 1 0 1 Louis Murphy: 0 0 1 Jerrel Jernigan: 0 0 1
I wouldn’t panic on Cruz or Myers here, as they’re Eli’s main targets. But relying on Nicks in any week is scary due to his injury history and the Giants’ (and Eli’s) play so far. You won’t be able to get draft-day value for him, but I’d be trying to sell him.
New York Jets
Stephen Hill: 9 8 6 Clyde Gates: 4 8 1 Santonio Holmes: 3 6 10 Kellen Winslow: 8 6 0 Bilal Powell: 5 5 3 Jeremy Kerley: 4 0 5 Chris Ivory: 2 0 0 Konrad Reuland: 1 0 0 Tommy Bohanon: 2 0 1 Jeff Cumberland: 0 0 3
Hill is averaging 97 yards in his last two games. Holmes had 5-154-1 this week after catching three passes for 51 yards in Week 2.
Oakland
Darren McFadden: 5 4 1 Rod Streater: 8 4 4 Brice Butler: 1 3 4 Mychal Rivera: 3 3 3 Jacoby Ford: 2 2 1 Denarius Moore: 7 2 11 Jeron Mastrud: 1 0 0 Marcel Reece: 2 0 5 Rashad Jennings: 0 0 2
Philadelphia
DeSean Jackson: 9 15 7 Jason Avant: 3 7 8 LeSean McCoy: 1 6 1 Riley Cooper: 6 3 7 Zach Ertz: 3 2 1 Brent Celek: 3 1 5 James Casey: 0 1 0 Bryce Brown: 0 1 0
Pittsburgh
Emmanuel Sanders: 12 10 8 Jerricho Cotchery: 7 9 4 Antonio Brown: 7 9 13 David Paulson: 0 4 2 Isaac Redman: 3 2 0 Derek Moye: 0 1 0 David Johnson: 1 1 3 Larod Stephens-Howling: 3 0 0 Heath Miller: 0 (inj.) 0 (I) 4 Jonathan Dwyer: 0 0 3 Felix Jones: 0 0 2 Will Johnson: 0 0 1 Markus Wheaton: 0 0 1
Finally the Steelers realized what they’d been doing wrong: Throwing to anyone not named Antonio Brown. Brown caught nine of his 13 targets for 196 yards and two touchdowns; his 31 ESPN standard points tied him with Drew Brees for most in the week. I like Brown but right now is the time to be selling him for a slow-starting running back if you’ve got WR depth.
San Diego
Antonio Gates: 4 10 7 Danny Woodhead: 3 9 8 Eddie Royal: 6 8 2 Vincent Brown: 4 7 3 Malcom Floyd: 5 6 0 (inj.) Keenan Allen: 0 3 1 Ronnie Brown: 2 1 0 Ryan Mathews: 2 1 0 Le’Ron McClain: 0 0 1 Ladarius Green: 0 0 2
Nobody really stepped up here with Floyd being out, but Royal did have a touchdown called back due to penalty.
San Francisco
Kyle Williams: 6 6 6 Vernon Davis: 9 5 0 (inj.) Bruce Miller: 2 5 1 Anquan Boldin: 17 4 8 Frank Gore: 2 3 4 Vance McDonald: 2 2 3 Marlon Moore: 1 1 1 Kendall Hunter: 0 0 1 Garrett Celek: 0 0 2 Quinton Patton: 0 0 1
Seattle
Sidney Rice: 3 5 5 Zach Miller: 4 4 3 Marshawn Lynch: 3 3 0 Golden Tate: 7 2 7 Doug Baldwin: 8 1 2 Robert Turbin: 2 1 1 Luke Willson: 0 1 5 Jermaine Kearse: 2 0 1 Stephen Williams: 1 0 0 Derrick Coleman: 3 0 0 Kellen Davis: 0 0 2
St. Louis
Tavon Austin: 7 12 7 Austin Pettis: 6 11 5 Chris Givens: 3 8 8 Jared Cook: 10 6 7 Daryl Richardson: 6 6 0 Isaiah Pead: 0(susp.) 4 7 Lance Kendricks: 4 3 5 Mike McNeill: 0 1 0 Brian Quick: 2 1 4 Benny Cunningham: 0 0 3 Cory Harkey: 0 0 1 Stedman Bailey: 0 0 1
Tampa Bay
Vincent Jackson: 13 11 6 Mike Williams: 8 6 9 Kevin Ogletree: 2 3 6 Nate Byham: 1 1 1 Doug Martin: 6 1 6 Brian Leonard: 1 0 2 Eric Page: 0 0 5 Timothy Wright: 0 0 2 Erik Lorig: 0 0 1
Both Jackson and Williams were injured Sunday, and if they’d be out for any time there’s no one here worth picking up right away.
Tennessee
Kendall Wright: 4 11 6 Kenny Britt: 2 9 5 Nate Washington: 7 5 10 Delanie Walker: 4 2 8 Chris Johnson: 0 1 2 Craig Stevens: 1 0 0 Damian Williams: 2 0 2 Justin Hunter: 0 0 2 Michael Preston: 0 0 1
Washington
Pierre Garcon: 11 13 13 Josh Morgan: 5 6 2 Santana Moss: 9 5 9 Logan Paulson: 0 3 6 Leonard Hankerson: 7 3 7 Jordan Reed: 6 3 6 Fred Davis: 4 2 0 Aldrick Robinson: 2 2 2 Alfred Morris: 1 2 1 Roy Helu: 2 1 3 Darrel Young: 1 0 0 Niles Paul: 0 0 1